Hydraulic pumping apparatus



March 31, 1942. w. E. HUBBARD 2,277,761

HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 31, 1942., w, HUBBARD 2,277,761

HYDRAULIQ PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheet 2 March 1942- w. E. I-IUBBARD 2,277,761

HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS 3 Filed Jan. 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheet 3 74 7? QWLQ 6f 64 I I .95 at March 31, 1942. w. E. HUBBARD 2,277,761

v HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheet 4 31, 194-2, w, HUBBARD 2,277,761

- HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheet 5 MarchBl, 1942. w. E. HUBBARD 2,277,761

HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheet 6 31, 1942 A w. E. HUBBARD HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS l8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed Jan. 20, 1939 TO AND FIFO mv/r 4.66

March 31, 1942. w. E..HUBBARD 9 HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheet 8 W. E. HUBBARD HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS 1s She'ets-Shet 9 Filed Jan. 20, 1939 w w a March 31, 1942. w. E. HUBBARD 2,277,761

HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jain. 20, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet l0 arch 31, 1942. w. E. HUBBARD HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheet '11 March 31, 1942. w. E. HUBBARD HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan.- 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheet 12 March 31, 1942 w. E. HUBBARD HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS l8 Sheets-Sheet 13 Filgd Jan. 20, 1939 March 31, 1942. w, E, U D 2,277,761

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HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Ja n. 20, 1939 1s Sheets-Sheet 15 RAM WE'l'l-IT March 31, 1942. w, HUBBARD 2,277,761

HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS .Filed Jan. 20, 1939 18 Sheets-Sheei 16 Innr... [gamut-inn!- March 31, 1942. w; E, HUBBARD 2,277,761

HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet 17 vcivfor,

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HYDRAULIC PUMPING APPARATUS Filed Jan. 20, 1959 18 Sheets-Sheet 18 w: 'Hw" veniol', William Efiaba 0?- diforne Patented Mar. 31., 1942 2,277,761 HYDRAULIC, PUMPING APPARATUS William E. Hubbard, Tulsa, 0kla., assignor to Hydraulic Pumper Incorporated, Tulsa, Okla,

a corporation of Oklahoma Application January 20, 1939, Serial No. 252,032

8 Claims.

This invention relates to a balanced hydraulic pump, and more particularly, .but not by way of limitation, to a long stroke hydraulic pump ior the pumping of oil wells and the like. The present application represents improvements evolved from my prior patent numbered 1,879,262, dated September 27, 1932.

In conventional pumping jack and crank disc apparatus used today throughout the oil well pumping industry, all of the revolving weight necessary for its operation must necessarily operate without any consideration for the slender sucker rods used to actuate the plunger in the working barrel at the bottom of the hole. Furthermore, such apparatus does not harmonize with the load carried by the plunger at the bottom of the well, and a conflict between the two is prevalent. It is now generally recognized that sucker rod trouble, such as breakage and the like, is not due to crooked holes, but is a direct result of conflict between pumping jack apparatus and the working barrel plunger. The plunger driven rapidly upward by the fluid in the well, would continue to go upward because of the kinetic forces produced, while the after it has reversed, would be starting downward. Since the distance is shortened between jack crank,

(Cl. 60-5 2) with the exception of one-half the oil weight,

the plunger and the crank,'the rods would buckle and have a tendency to break.

Furthermore, it has been found that for any given load in pumping apparatus cooperating with sub-surface rods, the static stretch of the rods would be the same for any type of apparatus. With the use of a long stroke in the pumping apparatus, it has been found that a great saving in power and up-keep can-be effected. For example, if it took 30 revolutions with a short stroke pump, and the same work could be done with a long stroke pump at 6 revolutions, th-ere would be a saving of twenty-four stretch, friction, and accelerating movements in addition to considerably -less"ii'iovement of the valves.

In the evolvement of the hydraulic balancing system wherein the long stroke principle can be successfully operated, I have provided a system in which a volume of air and fluid is compressed into a tank at such a pressure that it will equal all of the weight of the sucker rods, one-half of the oil weight to be pumped, one-half of the friction of the oil in the tubing and one-half of the acceleration load necessary to start the lunger and attendant parts on their upward stroke. From this it would be obvious that all the work-to be done by the system is balanced one-half the friction load and one-half the acceleration load. In order to take care of these unbalanced loads, and to raise the main plunger, additional energy must be produced by an outside source.

In the development of a hydraulic deep well pump of the type disclosed in'my prior patent above mentioned, it was found that the conventional reciprocating energy for the unbalanced load would not produce the speed necessary to obtain the proper fluid velocity to reciprocate the main plunger unit with the required rate of piston displacement. Furthermore, ther were frictional losses due to the separation of the balancing tank and its cooperatingunits. The separation of the balanced tank, the line pump and attendant units obviously necessitated connecting pipes, which created friction and reduced the efficiency of the whole unit. Furthermore, in case of repairs, it was necessary to break the pipes and dissipate the hydraulic fluid contained in the unit.

It is therefore an important object of this invention to embody a long stroke pumping movement with a hydraulic apparatus forv pro} ducing the stroke in order that a uniform motion free of any irregularities can be obtained.

A further important-object of this invention is to provide a self-contained hydraulic pumping unit grouped around the center of a well hole having its cooperating units so constructed that lifting of the complete unit from the well can be done without disconnecting any pipes ordissipating any hydraulic pressure.

Another important object of this invention is to provide a balanced hydraulic pumping apparatus having a radial pump for allowing an in creased fluid flow therethroughwhereby an increased piston displacement per minuteis provided.

And still another important object-of this in balanced hydraulic pu 'npvention is to provide a a radial pump structure ing apparatus having cooperating with a balancing tank containing the main plunger, said radial pump allowing fluid to flow radially from a central position within the radial pump, rods of the radial pump I impetus to increase the velocity of the 'fluid flow ing thereby to displace the. fluid through the radial pistons at such an increased velocity as to reciprocate the main piston plunger through greater feet of piston travel.

whereby the connecting And still another important objectof 'thi's fin line pumps for producing the in their motion willadd,

vention is to provide a self-contained balanced hydraulic pumping apparatus having its cooperating structures so disposed centrally around a well hole that frictionallosses through connecting mediums are eliminated, thus producing an increased efiiciency in the cooperating parts.

And still another important object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic pumping apparatus having a main piston unit of such construction that it substantially prevents all leakage losses of the fluid under pressure during the actuation of the piston unit. However, the construction provides that in case of any fluid leakage, it is returned to the system immediately as it occurs.

And still another important object of this invention is to provide a balanced hydraulic pumping apparatus having a main piston unit of such construction that all shocks and vibrations are compensated for during the reciprocation of the piston unit.

An additional object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic pumping apparatus having a main piston unit so constructed as to provide for a flexible alignment of a cooperating polish rod to compensate for any distortion or variations in alignment of the polish rod due to any reason whatsoever, whereby an eflicient operation of the moving parts of the pumping apparatus will prevail.

And still a further object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic pumping apparatus having a main piston unit of such arrangement that a spaced relation is provided between the piston unit and its cooperating polish rod to allow for great variations in alignment as well as eliminating -a polish rod stuifing box in the pumping unit, thus preventing corrosive action upon the polish rod, which would tend to cause leakage in the hydraulic apparatus.

And still another object of this invention is to provide a hydraulic pumping apparatus having 'a main piston unit of such construction that it permits the pulling of all cooperating sub-surface rods through the pumping unit without necessarily removing the unit from its position over the well.

Other objects and advantages of my invention will be evident from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate one form of my new invention.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is an elevational view of .the balanced hydraulic unit, partly broken away and in section, and shown disposed in relation to the casing of a well hole.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the unit, with the main or tank cover removed.

Fig. 3 is a broken vertical sectional view,

taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2, and showing in detail the inner construction of the main piston unit.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view, taken vertically through the main or balancing tank, and showing in detail the rack unit disposed within the tank.

Fig. 5'is a view similar to Fig. 4, and showing in detail the auxiliary pump unit which is disposed in the main tank, adjacent the rack unit, the latter being shown mainly in elevation.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sectional elevational view of the balancing tank with the reversing mechanism arranged mainly exteriorly of the wall thereof, and illustrating which it is operatively connected to the rack unit.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of the balancing tank, showing the'disposition of the reversing mechanism relative to the tank.

Fig. 8 is a vertical sectional view of the speed valve and main valve shown arranged at the bottom of the balancing tank.

Fig. 9 is a sectional elevational view of the pilot valve structure, and the main control piston structure, with the pipes which connect the same.

Fig. 10 is an elevational view of the pilot valve and a portion of the reversing mechanism with a cover of a housing of the latter removed, and showing these parts connected to the main balancing tank which is illustrated in vertical section.

Fig. 11 is a horizontal sectional view of a detail taken on the line ll--ll of Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 is a vertical sectional view of a detail, taken on the line i2-l2 of Fig. 9.

Fig. 13 is a vertical section, taken through the bottom of the tank, and showing the passageway from the main controlvalve to the bottom of the main ram or plunger unit.

Fig. 14 is a sideelevation, partly in vertical section, of the main control piston structure, and illustrating the housing thereof, and some of the control ports.

Fig, 15 is a top plan view of the control piston housing, and showing the piston in dotted lines.

Fig. 16 is a horizontal section through the main control valve and its piston shown connected by dot and dash lines with the lower portion of the balancing tank and the main plunger unit.

Fig. 1'7 is a horizontal section taken diametrically through the radial pump unit. By alignment of Figs. 16 and 17, a complete showing of the connection between the radial pump and the main valve may be obtained.

Fig. 18 is a side elevation of the main valve housing, taken on the line l8-l8 of Fig. 16.

Fig. 19 is a sectional view taken on the line Iii-l9 of Fig. 17.

Fig. 20 is a perspective view of a stern employed in guiding the'main valve and preventing the latter from turning.

Fig. 21 is a vertical sectional view of the connecting rod assembly of the radial pump.

Fig. 22 is a schematic view of the hydraulic pumping system.

Fig, 23 is a vertical sectional view taken through the lower portion of the balancing tank, on the line 23-23 of Fig. 2, and showing the disposition of the crankshaft with respect to the main valve and the radial pump unit; the crank case only of the latter being shown in order to facilitate illustration.

Fig. 24 'is a vertical sectional view of the adjustable supporting means arranged at the bottom of one of the legs on which the apparatus is mounted.

the manner in Fig. 25 is a vertical sectional view of a schematic layout of applicant's hydraulic unit shown in up stroke position, with certain parts out of proper position for better illustration.

Fig. 26 is a view similar to Fig. 25 of the unit shown in down stroke position.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and more particularly to Fig. 1, the hydraulic unit A comprises a vertically disposed cylindrical tank i having a head 2 (Fig. 3), and a bottom or lower casting 3. A radial pump unit 13 is disposed adjacent the lower end of the tank and supported 

